WOODBURY >> Terryville's girls volleyball team, fully recovered from it first regular-season defeat in more than a year, knocked Nonnewaug out of this year's undefeated ranks Tuesday evening at Nonnewaug High School, 3-0 (25-17; 25-16; 25-22).

The Kangaroos, three-time defending Berkshire League champions, went undefeated last year (17-0), then roared through this season's first four matches without losing a game. A week ago, Lewis Mills, still undefeated in the Berkshire League, stunned the Roos with a 3-1 smack down.

"Mills woke us up," said senior Jamie Bridge.

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"We didn't take them as seriously as we should have," said senior Anna Dupaul. "It got us more prepared for tonight; we knew this was going to be a tough one."

The Chiefs, 5-1 overall, now match Terryville's 3-1 league record (6-1 overall) for second place behind Mills at 4-0 (5-2 overall).

Nonnewaug swept a tough Northwestern team a week-and-a-half ago, but this week's schedule is, by far, the Chiefs' biggest test: Terryville Tuesday; Friday, at Lewis Mills.

The Chiefs have a formidable weapon in 6-foot-2 athletic senior Maddie Losure (12 kills, 4 aces, 1 block, 7 digs). Few teams can stand up to her when Nonnewaug supports her effectively.

Tuesday, against Terryville, that didn't happen.

"We made a real lot of mistakes on serves and on defense," said Nonnewaug coach John Lawless.

Meanwhile, the Kangaroos made a huge mistake underestimating the Spartans at Mills, but they usually don't beat themselves.

"Their kids cover the floor beautifully," said Lawless. "Even if they don't attack, it's still coming back over the net."

Losure makes certain some shots can't get back, but even against a cannon like hers, the Roos don't concede, then often find a way to their own unstoppable shots. Dupaul, a 5-foot-8 captain, led in both measures Tuesday with 9 kills and 15 digs. Nevertheless, for Terryville, the great shot or digs comes from anywhere.

Nonnewaug has huge strengths along with weaknesses in its lineup. Tuesday's evidence showed no real weaknesses for the Roos.

Each of Tuesday's games lasted just long enough for those factors to tip the outcome.

In Game One, the Chiefs came back from an early 7-6 deficit with the help of three straight aces by Losure and one of three blocks by Sophia Prasinos, 10-9, Nonnewaug.

From there, Terryville went on a 10-2 run: two kills by Dupaul; service ace by Bailey Doran (5 kills, 5 digs); block by Haylee Ouelette (3 kills, 4 aces); a shot to the corner by Kylie Baillargeon; and three Nonnewaug errors.

At 19-12, Lawless called time out, but the first game was gone.

Game two was a replay. Nonnewaug stayed with the Kangaroos through 10-10, on a Losure kill. Then Terryville took off in an 11-2 run: two more kills and an ace by Dupaul; a back-row shot to open space by Doran; 7 Nonnewaug errors.

At 21-12, Game two was also gone.

Game three took longer because Terryville lost focus early. The Kangaroos, not Nonnewaug, gave away points. From 4-4, Nonnewaug sailed to a 12-5 lead on eight Kangaroo mistakes.

Then Terryville recovered. Dupaul tipped a point over two would-be Nonnewaug blockers, Doran found another open spot. The balance tipped back to Terryville.

Nevertheless, like a force of gravity, Terryville's combination of attacks and endurance worked its spell one last time. Bridge had three kills, including a huge one for the final point. Ouelette served an ace. The Chiefs donated three more points.

Mills knocked Terryville out of the undefeated ranks. Terryville did it to Nonnewaug. The Kangaroos hope the wake-up call works for Nonnewaug at Mills on Friday.